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Black women have jumped over numerous hurdles to smash glass ceilings in sports.
Historically, Black women have had to face discrimination based on race and gender in sports. Trailblazers like Wilma Randolph and Debi Thomas paved the way for sports greats Serena Williams, Sheryl Swoopes, and others to reach new heights in athletics.
Keep scrolling to find out more about the Black women who've made history in sports.
Gabby Douglas
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Douglas was the first woman of color and the first Black gymnast to be the Individual All-Around Champion in the Olympics.
Wilma Rudolph
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Rudolph, an Olympic runner, became the first American woman to take home three gold medals at a single Olympic Games in 1960.
Debi Thomas
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In 1986, Thomas made history as the first Black woman to win a U.S. Figure Skating Championships title. She also went on to become the first Black woman to take home a Winter Olympics medal for the U.S. in 1988.
Sheryl Swoopes
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Swoopes was the first player signed in the WNBA when it was first founded in 1996.
Simone Biles
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In 2018, Biles became the most decorated gymnast in world championship history, winning gold in all four events.
Serena Williams
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Considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Williams has 23 Grand Slam titles and four Olympic gold medals to her name.
Florence Griffith-Joyner
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Flo-Jo set world records at the 1988 Olympics for both the 100- and 200-meter dash that have never been broken.
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